Four alternative paths for JTA's Skyway U2C proposal

[thelakelander]

Costs associated with plans to convert the Skyway into an autonomous vehicle system are spiraling out of control and have the potential to sink Mayor Curry's entire gas tax increase proposal. With this in mind, here are four alternative paths that could reduce the Skyway's cost to the local taxpayer, freeing up funds for additional needed projects throughout the city.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/four-alternative-paths-for-jtas-skyway-u2c-proposal/

[Charles Hunter]

Is anyone from The Jaxson attending, and planning to speak, at this morning's Finance Committee meeting on the LOGT?

[Captain Zissou]

Based on the rendering of the U2C down Bay street, it looks like half of the shipyards/metro park is planned to be asphalt?  We spent how much to demolish the Hart bridge ramps to open up that area for development, but we're going to cover it in traffic lanes instead?  It will be at least another year cleaning up the already demolished ramps and another year to build the new ones to bring the remaining elevated section down to Bay street. At that point it will have been 2-3 years since anyone used those ramps.  Have we noticed increase traffic downtown due to them being blocked off?  Do we really need that section of roadway at all?  I say scrap it and just improve the roadways and signalling to get people from Monoroe to Bay easier.

[marcuscnelson]

Watching it on Zoom and planning to speak when the chance comes.

[thelakelander]

Is anyone from The Jaxson attending, and planning to speak, at this morning's Finance Committee meeting on the LOGT?

I've been listening but I've had to mute it a few times. I have on and off meetings all morning.

[thelakelander]

Based on the rendering of the U2C down Bay street, it looks like half of the shipyards/metro park is planned to be asphalt?  We spent how much to demolish the Hart bridge ramps to open up that area for development, but we're going to cover it in traffic lanes instead?  It will be at least another year cleaning up the already demolished ramps and another year to build the new ones to bring the remaining elevated section down to Bay street. At that point it will have been 2-3 years since anyone used those ramps.  Have we noticed increase traffic downtown due to them being blocked off?  Do we really need that section of roadway at all?  I say scrap it and just improve the roadways and signalling to get people from Monoroe to Bay easier.

The majority of the Hart Bridge traffic avoids downtown altogether.

[thelakelander]

I really question those economic ROI predictions. I will have to look at the documents when they are released. I suspect those numbers would include just about everything being built within a 1/4 radius of these corridors. So there are likely things that will happen with or without transit, that are included in that number.

[Charles Hunter]

At the Finance Committee meeting, Nate Ford just said that [paraphrase] "AV technology is proven and has been in use in China and Japan for years."

[thelakelander]

Good explanation by Ford on the difference between the Miami Metromover and JTA Skyway. Integration of supportive land use is what has made Miami's more successful. Also, having a heavy rail system feed riders into it is significant.

[thelakelander]

At the Finance Committee meeting, Nate Ford just said that [paraphrase] "AV technology is proven and has been in use in China and Japan for years."

It's unproven here. There's a reason we're the guinea pigs with what we're proposing locally.

[Charles Hunter]

Good question by C/m Dennis on the LOGT revenue projections given increasing fuel efficiency. I hope the assertion of "very conservative projections" is true; but I question whether local population growth offsets gas tax revenue declines due to better fuel efficiency.

Priestly-Jackson is a firm "yes"

[thelakelander]

Brenda Priestly Jackson is a LOGT yes. Pittman is a firm yes as well.

[Charles Hunter]

Ford cited Lyon, France as having successful AVs in mixed traffic.  Does anyone know anything about Lyon?

[Charles Hunter]

Council President Hazouri said there will be 5 regional (in the At-Large Regions) Town Hall meetings on the LOGT.  Guessing times and dates TBA.

[thelakelander]

Ford cited Lyon, France as having successful AVs in mixed traffic.  Does anyone know anything about Lyon?

Yes:

In an effort to support the technological development of the public transport network in Lyon, France, Navya has launched two autonomous shuttles in the city that will be fully integrated into Lyon's public transport network over the next two years.

The shuttles will provide a regular service Mondays through Saturdays, except on match days and during other events.

The shuttles will operate on a 1.4-kilometer route that is located in a dense urban traffic environment that is used by thousands of vehicles each day. The route passes through one roundabout, four intersections with traffic lights, and eight pedestrian crossings at an average speed of 13 to 15 kilometers per hour, allowing Navya to address several key technical challenges. The goal is to eventually increase this to 20 to 25 kilometers per hour. 

"I would like to thank all the partners of this trial that illustrates Navya's technological leadership and know-how in autonomous mobility, as recently acknowledged at the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport," says Etienne Hermite, chief executive officer of Navya.

https://www.auvsi.org/industry-news/navya-launches-autonomous-shuttles-lyon-france

You don't have to go to France to see a pilot. They operate in mixed traffic as pilots in Gainesville and Lake Nona in Orlando as well. I've posted a video of the one in Lake Nona before.

Lake Nona AV video: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/the-jaxson-asks-jta-12-questions-about-the-u2c/

There's several examples out there. However, there aren't any out there that do what JTA is proposing with the U2C. That's what makes the U2C more expensive and with risks. However, it seems the technology side of the discussion is far outside of the comfortability of most council members, based on what I heard today. Much of the focus was centered around typical local politics, who will be getting the construction jobs and dreams of this being a gamechanger that puts Jax on the maps.